It’s been a while since we’ve posted a song of the week here let alone one from the Gospel genre. As chance would have it, this afternoon my random iTunes mix turned up an old favorite of mine ever since I bought the CD back during my senior year of college. Accordingly, this long delayed Pax Plena song of the week is brought to you courtesy of country/gospel music artist Randy Travis and is titled, Just a Closer Walk with Thee.
Written sometime during the early 20th century, Just a Closer Walk with Thee became a classic Negro Spiritual and was widely circulated as a Dixieland standard which would become a rallying point for poor blacks in the Mississippi Delta. The song melds elements of blues and country to create a sound that is both uplifting and plaintive. I won’t bore you with futher analysis. It really is a song that speaks for itself. Belows is the performance by Randy Travis. Lyrics follow after the jump.
It’s been a while since we’ve done a Pax Plena song of the week. Here’s the latest, hilarious hit by Brad Paisley which pretty much sums up most things you’ll find online (including this site). Direct from the new album here is Brad Paisley’s Online. http://services.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/416542555Online I work down at the Pizza Pit And I drive an old Hyundai I still live with my mom and dad I’m 5 foot 3 and overweight I’m a scifi fanatic A mild asthmatic And I’ve never been to second base But there’s whole ‘nother me That you need to see Go checkout MySpace ‘Cause online I’m out in Hollywood I’m 6 foot 5 and I look damn good I drive a Maserati I’m a black-belt in karate And I love a good glass of wine It turns girls on that I’m mysterious I tell them I don’t want nothing serious ‘Cause even on a slow day I could have a three way Chat with two women at one time I’m so much cooler online So much cooler online When I get home I kiss my mom And she fixes me a snack And I head down to my basement bedroom And fire up my Mac In real life the only time I’ve ever even been to L.A Is when I got the chance with the marching band To play tuba in the Rose Parade Online I live in Malibu I pose for Calvin Klein, I’ve been in GQ I’m single and I’m rich And I’ve got a set of six pack abs that would blow your mind It turns girls on that I’m mysterious I tell them I don’t want nothing serious ‘Cause even on a slow day I could have a three way Chat with two women at one time I’m so much cooler online So much cooler online When you got my kind of stats It’s hard to get a date Let alone a real girlfriend But I grow another foot and I lose a bunch of weight Every time I login Online I’m out in Hollywood I’m 6 foot 5 and I look damn good Even on a slow day I could have a three way Chat with two women at one time I’m so much cooler online Yeah, I’m cooler online I’m so much cooler online Yeah, I’m cooler online Yeah, I’m cooler online Yeah, I’ll see ya online
Perhaps it’s typical of warm days to wax nostalgic over summers past? Whatever the reason, of late whenever I hear Craig Morgan’s That’s What I Love About Sunday, it reminds me of the lazy summer days of my youth spent back in Oklahoma. The music is written in a high, minor key with E and A minor chords featured prominently throughout. This point notwithstanding, the song itself is more introspective than it is sad as the chorus picks up with a rich mix of full major chords before the its conclusion. Instruments tend to be acoustic guitar supported by fiddle and percussion. Fairly typical of country music. While the music is good, it really is Morgan’s voice which carries the song and drives its story. The lyrics themselves present the tale of a simple family enjoying their Sunday tracing the day from a morning church service to Sunday lunch afterward before ending with an evening stroll. While it’s certainly an arguable point, in the opinion of yours truly, the song pretty much sums up the perfect day. Sometimes the best of life really is the simple. In all, the song offers an experience enjoyed widely back in Walters and one I hope to enjoy again someday soon. For now, life is humidity and Boston bustle but Morgan’s tune is a nice respite even in the midst of a crowd. The song’s official music video is presented below for your listening and viewing pleasure. Lyrics follow after the jump. That’s What I Love About Sunday Raymond’s in his Sunday best, He’s usually up to his chest in oil an’ grease. There’s the Martin’s walkin’ in, With that mean little freckle-faced kid, Who broke a window last week. Sweet Miss Betty likes to sing off key in the pew behind me. That’s what I love about Sunday: Sing along as the choir sways; Every verse of Amazin’ Grace, An’ then we shake the Preacher’s hand. Go home, into your blue jeans; Have some chicken an’ some baked beans. Pick a back yard football team, Not do much of anything: That’s what I love about Sunday. I stroll to the end of the drive, Pick up the Sunday Times, grab my coffee cup. It looks like Sally an’ Ron, finally tied the knot, Well, it’s about time. It’s 35 cents off a ground round, Baby. cut that coupon out! That’s what I love about Sunday: Cat-napping on the porch swing; You curled up next to me, The smell of jasmine wakes us up. Take a walk down a back road, Tackle box and a cane pole; Carve our names in that white oak, An’ steal a kiss as the sun fades, That’s what I love about Sunday, Oh, yeah. Ooh, new believers gettin’ baptized, Momma’s hands raised up high, Havin’ a Hallelujah good time A smile on everybody’s face. That’s what I love about Sunday, Oh, yeah. That’s what I love about Sunday, Oh, yeah.
As you can tell from the header above, the anniversary of our Nation’s Independence is nearly upon us.
Accordingly, the Pax Plena song of the week is none other than our National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. Normally, I would write a longer post analyzing the song and musical styles but in this instance, I can do very little to add to the powerful words of our Nation’s sacred hymn. Please enjoy this rendition of the Star Spangled Banner as performed by the Charlie Daniels Band. Full lyrics follow after the jump.
The Star Spangled Banner
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen thro’ the mists of the deep, Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam, In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream: ‘Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion A home and a country should leave us no more? Their blood has wash’d out their foul footsteps’ pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand, Between their lov’d homes and the war’s desolation; Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserv’d us as a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause is just, And this be our motto: “In God is our trust” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
The Pax Plena song of the week comes to you courtesy of Alternative music sensation Fall Out Boy and is titled, This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race.
FOB has been a recent introduction to yours truly although the group has been around on the order of a few years. Like most success stories they seem to have taken off overnight. Today’s featured song appears on their latest album Infinity on High which also includes the hit Thnks fr th Mmrs– a tremendous song in its own right albeit a bit bitter.
FOB’s music is most easily described as punk-alternative; an admittedly pronounced departure for an ardent country music fan such as myself. But what I enjoy most about FOB’s music is its tempo and speed. Anyone needing a shot of adrenaline in the afternoon need look no further than the latest album. Fortunately, the up-beat tempo is seamlessly melded with a cutting edge mix of drums, guitar accompaniment, and even orchestra; all of which combine to underscore the clever lyrics of Pete Wentz and underrated vocals of lead singer Patrick Stump. In terms of style, the sound definitely stays true to its punk origins although there is a bit of R&B mixed in with today’s selection.
The lyrics of this song are incredibly well done for a popular album. This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race forcefully presents the importance of free speech and thought for audiences’ consideration. If I may indulge my own conjecture, the song also sketches a philosophy for the band’s music: arming listeners with the power of words to fight in the battle of ideas. The driving idea behind the song also seems to embrace the medieval notion of singer as bard, poet and scholar. I would normally argue that this role is too much for most public entertainers- after all, how much can Britney Spears and Paris Hilton really contribute to public discourse? But FOB does a good job of rejecting dogma and forcing people to consider their own assumptions; a healthy phenomenon for any culture. In turn, today’s song does an unusually good job of marrying provocative lyrics with memorable sound.
The video below tells the story of this tension and presents a complex picture of music in today’s society. The band’s view of the matter is not clear and leaves any conclusions wonderfully open-ended for listeners and fans to consider themselves. Lyrics follow after the jump. Enjoy.
This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race
I am an arms dealer Fitting you with weapons in the form of words And I don’t really care, which side wins As long as the room keeps singing That’s just the business I’m in
This ain’t a scene, it’s a god damn arms race This ain’t a scene, it’s a god damn arms race This ain’t a scene, it’s a god damn arms race I’m not a shoulder to cry on, but I digress
I’m a leading man And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate I’m a leading man And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate
I wrote the gospel on giving up (You look pretty sinking) But the real bombshells have already sunk (Primadonnas of the gutter) At night we’re painting your trash gold while you sleep Crashing not like hips or cars No, more like p-p-p-parties
This ain’t a scene, it’s a god damn arms race This ain’t a scene, it’s a god damn arms race This ain’t a scene, it’s a god damn arms race Bandwagon’s full. Please, catch another
I’m a leading man And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate I’m a leading man And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate
All the boys who the dance floor didn’t love And all the girls whose lips couldn’t move fast enough Sing until your lungs give out
This ain’t a scene, it’s a god damn arms race This ain’t a scene, it’s a god damn arms race (Now you) This ain’t a scene, it’s a god damn arms race (Wear out the groove) This ain’t a scene, it’s a god damn arms race (Sing out loud) This ain’t a scene, it’s a god damn arms race (Oh, oh) This ain’t a scene, it’s a god damn arms race
I’m a leading man And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate I’m a leading man And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate
Pax Plena 